Best of

the Twin Cities

Best Coffee Shop

Spyhouse Northeast

If there's a drawback to the surplus of top-notch coffee shops in the Twin Cities — and, frankly, we're not complaining — it's that it can be hard for any single one to stand out from the crowd. No such worries exist with the newest addition to the Spyhouse empire, located in Northeast off Broadway and Central. The array of coffee, espresso, and artisan teas needs no introduction, thanks to the roaster's 14-year run as a south Minneapolis institution. The latest shop sets itself apart with a finely tuned attention to detail, a stylish mirror to the neighborhood's hip convergence of old industrialism and new Bohemia. Located in an old mattress factory, Spyhouse makes use of the building's weathered bricks and exposed rafters, complementing them with aged wood trim and signature black leather upholstery to form a charming rustic chic vibe. The big picture windows along the front light up the room during the day, while the overhead lamps (including a chandelier above the wrap-around bar) provide a cozy, romantic ambience at night. Spyhouse owner Christian Johnson even indulged his fondness for secondhand oddities, decorating the walls with old bowling shoe racks, a big metal drugstore sign, and — why the hell not? — a portrait of FDR. Such craftsmanship makes for more than a coffee shop; this cafe is a work of art. For the shop's clientele, it may even be a wellspring of inspiration.